Kustoff Backs Temporary Immigration Pause
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) said he supports a temporary pause on immigration as Congress and the Trump administration assess what he described as widespread abuses of the system and their impact on American workers.
“We do need a temporary pause,” Kustoff said during an interview on KWAM News Radio, aligning himself with President Donald Trump and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who has introduced legislation to halt immigration while federal officials take stock of current programs. “Let’s figure out where we are, let us get a handle on things, and then we can reassess.”
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Kustoff’s comments came amid renewed debate within the GOP over immigration levels, employment visas and fraud in federal benefit programs. Roy has argued that programs such as H-1B visas and diversity visas have been misused and should be frozen. “We’ve got to pause immigration,” Roy said in the same broadcast, pointing to historical precedent for a prolonged halt in the early 20th century.
Kustoff said the Trump administration has already tightened border enforcement and that Congress provided additional funding and authority through what Republicans have dubbed the “one big, beautiful bill.” He said the next step is to evaluate the broader immigration system, including employment-based visas.
Locally, the issue has drawn attention from workers who say they are being displaced by visa holders. The radio host cited complaints from the Memphis area, including at FedEx, where some employees allege jobs are being replaced by H-1B visa workers. Kustoff said he supports employment visas for truly specialized skills but agrees that the programs require closer scrutiny.
“President Trump has his finger on the pulse,” Kustoff told KWAM. “Let’s get a hold of it. Let’s see where we are, and then we can re-evaluate.”
The Tennessee congressman also linked immigration concerns to broader questions about fraud in federal programs, referencing investigations in Minnesota and Ohio involving alleged misuse of government funds. A former federal prosecutor, Kustoff said a single major prosecution could have a deterrent effect but added that lawmakers need to determine how widespread the problem may be.
Beyond immigration, Kustoff used the interview to highlight what he called economic gains from recent legislation, including permanent tax cuts, the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, and benefits for seniors receiving Social Security. He said those changes are expected to show up in paychecks and tax refunds next year.
Still, immigration dominated the exchange, with Kustoff emphasizing that any pause would be temporary. “Congressman Chip Roy is right. President Trump is right,” he said. “Let’s reassess and move forward with a system that works for the American people.”
Categorized:Local News